Art Paper
Art paper, crafted from interwoven plant fibers, varies in types for diverse artistic needs. Its strength depends on fiber length. Generally heavyweight and textured, it enables artists to add depth to their creations. Some types, like watercolor paper, withstand repeated erasing.
Weights of Paper
Different types of art papers are made in various weights, expressed in lbs (pounds) or gsm (grammes per square metre). Fine art papers are usually made in the range of 120gsm to 850gsm. Oriental papers tend to be lighter weight. Drawing papers are more commonly 130gsm weight but the heavier weight Snowdon Cartridge 300gsm is immensely popular. Thicker paper can cope with more erasing and mark making. As a general rule, the heavier the paper (higher the gsm/lbs in weight) the thicker the paper.Top of Form
There are several different types of art paper surfaces that can be used in creating various art drawings. including Rough (also called Torchon or Grossa depending upon where the paper is made and the language!), Hot Pressed (HP. Satinata, Liscia) and Not or Cold Pressed (Fina, Fin).
Rough Surface has the most texture and during manufacture the blankets pressing on either side of the paper creates a heavily textured finish. This surface is very popular for landscape watercolours, abstract watercolours and also for mixed media work where dusty or dry pigments are attracted to the ‘tooth’ or surface texture.
Not or Cold Pressed paper is the most common surface for watercolour artists and also popular for drawing. The paper is pressed for a second time without the blanket, flattening the surface that has been imprinted with the blanket. The common name for this surface is Cold Pressed or ‘Not’ which stands for ‘Not Hot Pressed’. There is still tooth to hold pigment and carbon. Perfect for all watercolour techniques and drawing, you will have a bit of interest in the surface but not over the top!
Hot Pressed paper is created by further pressing on a hot cylinder, resulting in closely bonded fibers and a smoother surface. This surface is favored by botanical artists and those who require fine detail. Despite the harder top, it still allows for beautiful washes of color with inks or watercolors. Paper manufacturers typically offer their products in two or all three surfaces, each with varying quality. Experimenting with different papers helps you find the ideal surface for your chosen materials.
When it comes to Pastel Paper, the presence of ‘tooth’ (texture) is crucial for pastels to adhere properly. Some popular choices include printmaking papers with softer unsized surfaces or textured surfaces like Canson Mi-Teintes pastel paper. Fully primed papers, such as Colourfix paper and Fisher 400, incorporate ground pumice stone for a smooth coating. Additionally, there are velour surfaces, like Hahnemuhle’s, described as ‘fuzzy-felt.’ These papers often come in a variety of colors, providing ample choices for artists.Top of Form
overview of various types of surfaces used in art drawing
- Newsprint Papers:
- Commonly used by sketching amateurs.
- Ideal for markers, graphite pencils, charcoal, monochrome chalks, and oil pencils.
- Sketching Papers:
- Similar to drawing papers, lighter in weight.
- Suitable for drawing exercises, dry media explorations, and quick studies.
- Used with colored pencils, graphite, charcoal, drawing chalks, and oil pencils.
- Drawing Papers:
- Used for finished work and drawing.
- Compatible with graphite, charcoal, dry monochromes, soft pastels, oil pastels, markers, and pen and ink.
- Charcoal Papers:
- Made of cotton with a distinct woven finish.
- Works well with charcoal, drawing chalks, monochromes, pastels, and graphite.
- Pastel Papers:
- Can be used on both sides.
- Ideal for pastels, charcoal, drawing chalks, monochromes, and colored pencils.
- Mixed Media Papers:
- Created to withstand various media processes.
- Suitable for graphite, colored pencils, markers, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, and more.
- Toned Papers:
- Allows for a range of values from bright to dark.
- Enables strategic placement of shadows and highlights.
- Ideal for graphite and other media.
- Marker Papers:
- Smooth surface for markers, heavy and prevents bleeding.
- Can be lightly sketched with graphite but caution advised.
- Bristol Papers:
- Versatile and widely used.
- Comes in smooth (plate) and vellum (tooth) surfaces.
- Layout Bond Papers:
- Semi-opaque paper used by designers and artists.
- Works well with graphite, colored pencils, chalk, monochrome pencils, and charcoal.
- Oil Painting Papers:
- Linen-textured paper for oil painting without gesso.
- Recommended to mount finished results to a board.
- Canvas Papers:
- Textured canvas paper suitable for painting with paint and oil without gesso.
- Used for practicing painting techniques.
- Watercolor Papers:
- Broad category with various weights and textures.
- Suitable for graphite, watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, and more.
- Palette Papers:
- Poly-coated paper for mixing paint temporarily.
- Used for acrylic and oil, disposable after each session.
- Tracing Papers:
- Thin, transparent paper for picture tracing and transferring.
- Suitable for ink, markers, and graphite.
- Vellum Papers:
- Translucent vellum paper for fine art and craft projects.
- Used for tracing, adding decorative elements, or protecting artwork.
- Suitable for pastel, chalk, colored pencils, graphite, and markers.
Poly Next General Trading, a leading and specialized trading company in the United Arab Emirates, offers a diverse range of paper products, including glossy, matte, interior, ivory, writing, wood-free, and artistic papers. PolyNext prepared to enter into contracts and facilitate paper supply on a global scale. .For more information you can contact us or visit our website.
